I cannot tell the truth about anything unless I confess being a student, growing and learning something new every day. The more I learn, the clearer my view of the world becomes.

What is the beauty of the haiku is that it is not simplistic. The beauty of the haiku I just said is very complex. It reaches all the complexities of our life on this Earth. Peace - that's a very complex idea, peace, so we can't get it as human beings.

All poets, all writers are political. They either maintain the status quo, or they say, 'Something's wrong, let's change it for the better.'

The black artist is dangerous. Black art controls the 'Negro's' reality, negates negative influences, and creates positive images.

I probably have not killed anyone in America because I write, I've maintained good controls over myself by writing.

So much of growing up is an unbearable waiting. A constant longing for another time. Another season.

You can't have relationships with other people until you give birth to yourself.